... we believe Aikido has risen from the quagmire of "martial arts" as they were to a new level of budo. Ya see the founder took Aiki of budo and changed it from war to peace and made it stick.

I have never been convinced that Ueshiba was talking about "peace" so much as he was parrotting the "harmony with the Universe" which is the basis for so much Asian cosmology. Here's the word from Aikikai Hombu:

Aikido is a Budo (martial art) created by Morihei Ueshiba. ... The Aikikai Foundation, ..., was founded in order to preserve and promote the ideals of the true Aikido created by the Founder. ....

Of course, they may not have gotten the word.

Ahem...

Quote:

O Sensei, "Takemusu Aiki" Lecture (2). AJ:116(1999) wrote:

Takemusu aiki is a service we offer in order to protect the worlds in which all Universal activity occurs, that is, the Three Worlds -- Appearance, Subconscious and Divine -- and help them to harmonize with each other and flourish. We call it takemusu aiki when we clarify the true meaning of God's works.

... In a sense, with aiki, you purify and remove evil with your own breath of faithfulness instead of using a sword. In other words, you change the physical world into a spiritual world. This is aikido's mission.
... In the same spirit as the Bible on the return of Michael (see Daniel 12), all the three worlds will completely admire this Great Saint and follow his words with joy.

Yep. Indisputable. Parroting. Asian Cosmology. Yessirree.

FWIW --

Quote:

Daniel 12:1-3 wrote:

1. At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book.
2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

1-2-3, Appearance, Subconscious, Divine.

Parotting -- Yeah. Right. The Old Man deserves a little more credit, really.